Remove barriers dividing Konkani movement: meet BY HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JAN 29 - The two-day 7th Yuva Konkani Sahitya Sammelan got underway at Rosary College, Navelim on Saturday with leading lights of the Konkani literary field calling for the removal of all barriers dividing the Konkani movement.
In his inaugural address, Gulab Editor Fausta D'Costa said the scripts have brought hurdles in the way of the Konkani literary field and underlined the need to find a solution to bring the two groups together. "There is scope for a solution through the process of dialogue", he said and expressed confidence that young Konkani authors can help solve the differences. Saying that the sammelan is the best forum to find a solution to the script problem, D'Costa said young authors should learn and read all scripts. "This way Konkani readers will increase while young authors will gain experience", he added. Chairman of Goa Konkani Akademi, Pundalik Nayak said though the Akademi is a Government body working for Devanagri script, the Roman script will not be given step motherly treatment and promised to give the same facilities to Roman script as enjoyed by Devnagiri script. Sammelan Chairman Prakash Vazrekar said young authors should touch subjects such as social imbalance and environment problems as part of their social obligations. In his address, the Rosary College manager Fr Jose Antonio Costa said the scripts has created a wall amongst the Konkani movement. Lamenting that the Government has not provided adequate financial encouragement for budding authors, Fr Costa said that lack of Government support has kept away many a young Konkani author. Earlier, Principal Fr Walter D'Sa welcomed, while Working President Balchandra Gaonkar also spoke.
